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Community helps church gain fellowship hall

Victory Holiness Church Pastor Nick Atkins stands with his wife, Kim, and their daughter, Jessa, 7. The Victory Holiness Church building is shown at left while the new fellowship building is shown on the right.

Published: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 12:02 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 12:02 p.m.

The community built this by committee.

It's a special place for the special people at Victory Holiness Church at the corner of N.C. Highway 8 and Gray Road, who can now function in a more typical environment, though they have atypical needs.

The congregation, which numbers about 15, is comprised largely of either elderly or handicapped. The small block building it uses for worship service is not large enough to accommodate other activities, especially for those who need more space for mobility. The old structure has a bit of history. It has served as a book store, a butcher's shop, a general store and even a VFW bar.

"When we wanted to have a lunch, we had to move the pews back to set up tables," explains pastor Nick Atkins, who founded the church in February 2005. "It wasn't ideal," he added. Stains on the carpet were just one of the dynamics that created inconveniences.

One of Atkins' first stops in pursuit of a semblance of a fellowship hall was Bunce Buildings in Lexington.

To the pastor's surprise, the company was able to finance a 14x24 building. And then, other things started falling into place.

Atkins relates that Bunce threw in a free wheelchair ramp, windows, lights and a countertop.

"They were outstanding to work with," noted Atkins, who solicited donations for the church's needs.

"We got a unique surprise from Johnson Brothers Manufacturers (in Providence, N.C.)," Atkins said. "They made a commitment (toward the payments) for 36 months. That just knocked our socks off. It's just a wonderful thing that they did."

Then, Lowe's Home Improvement of Lexington chipped in $250 in supplies to finish the inside of the building. And, Lowe's in Winston-Salem gave $100 in supplies, and Lowe's in Kernersville donated more than $150 in supplies.

There's more.

Home Depot gave $50 in supplies as did ElectriCities of Lexington.

Unilin Flooring of Thomasville donated all of the laminated flooring, which amounted to 480 square feet.

Walters Discount Store in Lexington donated a refrigerator.

Also locally, Nick Livengood gave his time for the electrical services. Tivis Meadows donated an air conditioner.

Atkins also points out that landlord Oscar Kirkuf has been generous with the church.

"He's been a great landlord. The rent has been manageable, and he took care of all the problems with maintenance. He's an outstanding person.

"All of our needs were met just through donations."

Some in the church include Atkins' relatives. Associate pastor Ted H. Ray Jr., for example, is his uncle.

Ray, 57, was born with cerebral palsy. He's a mute and a paraplegic who has the use of only one hand.

"He's memorized the New Testament and most of the Old Testament," Atkins says. "He's someone who is really an inspiration to others."

Ray's sermons are 10 to 15 minutes long. He types one letter at a time, so composing a sermon takes him hours. His voice is that of the computer, which speaks what he has typed.

Another church member suffers from Cri du chat syndrome — also known as the Cat's Cry syndrome — which is genetic disorder.

One member's husband is a double amputee who cannot attend regularly.

The head deacon is 80 and actually drives from Greensboro to attend the church here.

And the 36-year-old Atkins himself hasn't altogether escaped adversity. He is a cancer survivor and a diabetic. To support his wife and young daughter, he works as a virtual recruiter for Allegis Services and operates NKJ Photography.

Though the independent Holiness church is small, Atkins notes that it has been the home church of a few people who have gone on to launch careers in the ministry.

The church holds services at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sundays and at 6:45 Wednesday nights. For those who attend Sunday morning worship, lunch is served afterward in the new fellowship hall. The church's website can be accessed at nickatkins.wix.com/victory-holiness-church-of-lexington-nc. The email address is victoryholiness@gmail.com. The telephone number is 798-0168.

Dwight Davis can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 226 or at dwight.davis@the-dispatch.com.

<p>The community built this by committee.</p><p>It's a special place for the special people at Victory Holiness Church at the corner of N.C. Highway 8 and Gray Road, who can now function in a more typical environment, though they have atypical needs.</p><p>The congregation, which numbers about 15, is comprised largely of either elderly or handicapped. The small block building it uses for worship service is not large enough to accommodate other activities, especially for those who need more space for mobility. The old structure has a bit of history. It has served as a book store, a butcher's shop, a general store and even a VFW bar.</p><p>"When we wanted to have a lunch, we had to move the pews back to set up tables," explains pastor Nick Atkins, who founded the church in February 2005. "It wasn't ideal," he added. Stains on the carpet were just one of the dynamics that created inconveniences.</p><p>One of Atkins' first stops in pursuit of a semblance of a fellowship hall was Bunce Buildings in Lexington.</p><p>To the pastor's surprise, the company was able to finance a 14x24 building. And then, other things started falling into place.</p><p>Atkins relates that Bunce threw in a free wheelchair ramp, windows, lights and a countertop.</p><p>"They were outstanding to work with," noted Atkins, who solicited donations for the church's needs.</p><p>"We got a unique surprise from Johnson Brothers Manufacturers (in Providence, N.C.)," Atkins said. "They made a commitment (toward the payments) for 36 months. That just knocked our socks off. It's just a wonderful thing that they did."</p><p>Then, Lowe's Home Improvement of Lexington chipped in $250 in supplies to finish the inside of the building. And, Lowe's in Winston-Salem gave $100 in supplies, and Lowe's in Kernersville donated more than $150 in supplies.</p><p>There's more.</p><p>Home Depot gave $50 in supplies as did ElectriCities of Lexington.</p><p>Unilin Flooring of Thomasville donated all of the laminated flooring, which amounted to 480 square feet.</p><p>Walters Discount Store in Lexington donated a refrigerator.</p><p>Also locally, Nick Livengood gave his time for the electrical services. Tivis Meadows donated an air conditioner.</p><p>Atkins also points out that landlord Oscar Kirkuf has been generous with the church.</p><p>"He's been a great landlord. The rent has been manageable, and he took care of all the problems with maintenance. He's an outstanding person.</p><p>"All of our needs were met just through donations."</p><p>Some in the church include Atkins' relatives. Associate pastor Ted H. Ray Jr., for example, is his uncle.</p><p>Ray, 57, was born with cerebral palsy. He's a mute and a paraplegic who has the use of only one hand.</p><p>"He's memorized the New Testament and most of the Old Testament," Atkins says. "He's someone who is really an inspiration to others."</p><p>Ray's sermons are 10 to 15 minutes long. He types one letter at a time, so composing a sermon takes him hours. His voice is that of the computer, which speaks what he has typed.</p><p>Another church member suffers from Cri du chat syndrome — also known as the Cat's Cry syndrome — which is genetic disorder.</p><p>One member's husband is a double amputee who cannot attend regularly.</p><p>The head deacon is 80 and actually drives from Greensboro to attend the church here.</p><p>And the 36-year-old Atkins himself hasn't altogether escaped adversity. He is a cancer survivor and a diabetic. To support his wife and young daughter, he works as a virtual recruiter for Allegis Services and operates NKJ Photography.</p><p>Though the independent Holiness church is small, Atkins notes that it has been the home church of a few people who have gone on to launch careers in the ministry.</p><p>The church holds services at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sundays and at 6:45 Wednesday nights. For those who attend Sunday morning worship, lunch is served afterward in the new fellowship hall. The church's website can be accessed at nickatkins.wix.com/victory-holiness-church-of-lexington-nc. The email address is victoryholiness@gmail.com. The telephone number is 798-0168.</p><p>Dwight Davis can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 226 or at dwight.davis@the-dispatch.com.</p>